Question on alingment

[mritz]

1996 Explorer 2 wheel drive 5.0 208xxx miles
Finaly bit the bullet and bought new tires from local Firestone dealer
all went well until time to check alingment,said they could not do it without
repacking and tighting wheel bearings which my son and I replaced less than 1 yr ago,they wanted $120 to do this I declined and told them I would have them checked myself.
My son pulled everything and as expected nothing was wrong with the bearing we did a once over on the complete supension and looks fine I went back today to same store nothing was said about bearings this time but now I am being told I need to have Caster/Camber kit installed at a $300 price tag once again I declined
Talked to Son who has been working on Rangers since he was 16 with his first car( hes now 33) from what he has told me the only time he has ever had to install a camber kit is when he slamed his to the ground and made drastic changes to the supension.
Is it possiable a dead stock never wrecked Explorer would need caster/camber kit installed ? should I seek 2nd opion first ? or get 2 of this kit from rockauto
RAYBESTOS Part # 6161011 Contains Cams And Bolt; 0 Degree To Plus Or Minus 2-1/4 Degree; Front install them and then try the alingment again
Getting a bad feeling with the shop wonder what will stop the next trip for Alingment

 

[YoungMounty]

I had to get this kit installed at my local alignment shop, cost roughly ~$125. Mine being lifted they told me I had to get this so they could align it in spec. The mechanic even showed me a print out of the closest he could get it without this kit. I bit and he aligned it near perfect. I don't see why you would need this on stock though and for $300, go somewhere else.

 

[Milwaukee]

Sound like one I had issue with Belle Tire.

94 F150 I knew it need alignment and tires barely balding. When I request for alignment. First thing they come say You need wheel bearing, steering box, and 2 new tires. It will cost $1200. I told them I just want alignment THAT IT.

End get to other shop for alignment.


On Explorer I was looking at mine they are definably adjustable sound like he didn't want deal with rusted factory camber which is tough to adjust.

 

[deweyville65]

1996 Explorer 2 wheel drive 5.0 208xxx miles
Finaly bit the bullet and bought new tires from local Firestone dealer
all went well until time to check alingment,said they could not do it without
repacking and tighting wheel bearings which my son and I replaced less than 1 yr ago,they wanted $120 to do this I declined and told them I would have them checked myself.
My son pulled everything and as expected nothing was wrong with the bearing we did a once over on the complete supension and looks fine I went back today to same store nothing was said about bearings this time but now I am being told I need to have Caster/Camber kit installed at a $300 price tag once again I declined
Talked to Son who has been working on Rangers since he was 16 with his first car( hes now 33) from what he has told me the only time he has ever had to install a camber kit is when he slamed his to the ground and made drastic changes to the supension.
Is it possiable a dead stock never wrecked Explorer would need caster/camber kit installed ? should I seek 2nd opion first ? or get 2 of this kit from rockauto
RAYBESTOS Part # 6161011 Contains Cams And Bolt; 0 Degree To Plus Or Minus 2-1/4 Degree; Front install them and then try the alingment again
Getting a bad feeling with the shop wonder what will stop the next trip for Alingment

Why not do it yourself? Too many shops just looking to make money replacing parts that do not need replacing. See if your upper control arm thru bolts have an eccentric washer on them, if so, you can adjust them. Using a tape measure, check the toe in. Shoot for about 1/16" or so. That is where I set my 96. Control track 4x4.

 

[mikepier]

I recently changed the lower ball joints, upper ball joint/control arm assemblies, and tie rod ends. I still used the same stock bolts/washers for the UCA's. These bolt/washers are non-adjustable, but I don't have any problems. I eyeballed the alignment myself by adjusting the tie-rod ends, and the truck drives straight with no pulling. I do not see any uneven tire wear but still keeping an eye on it.

If your tires had no wear issues before, then you probably do not need an alignment.

 

[Ghostimage]

I just did my uppers and lowers. Had to do alignment as it was a write off I got cheap, and needed alignment to get body integrity test done. There is no reason you would need camber kit, garage just wants you to get it because those bolts/washers are a nightmare to adjust with all the rust. A friend of mine has his own garage and i do my own work at no cost. When i asked him about the kit, he told me it was a waste of money. it makes a job you'll probably do maybe twice in the life of the truck a little easier.